Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan Interviews

Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan was born in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, in 1940 and was raised in Wabash and Elaine, Phillips County, Arkansas.

Sullivan grew up listening to local blues musicians on King Biscuit Time, which aired on Helena's KFFA radio station. In 1986 Sullivan and Jerry Pillow organized the first King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, starring blues legends Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, CeDell Davis, Sam Carr, James Cotton, and Frank Frost.

Early in his career, Sullivan worked on his family farm and in sales. In 1987 he opened Bubba's Blues Corner, a music store that has become a destination for musicians from around the world. Sullivan has served as the historian of the Sonny Boy Blues Society, which produces the annual King Biscuit Blues Festival.

Sullivan passed away on August 18, 2021.

Video

Audio

Transcripts

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Composite image of early photo of Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan and still frame from Pryor Center video interview © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#1: Composite image of early photo of Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Howe Lumber Company where Bubba Sullivan's father and grandfather worked; Wabash, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: Howe Lumber Company where Bubba Sullivan's father and grandfather worked; Wabash, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan's father, Berbon Silas Sullivan, in his Elaine High School football photo; Elaine, Arkansas, 1930 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: Bubba Sullivan's father, Berbon Silas Sullivan, in his Elaine High School football photo; Elaine, Arkansas, 1930
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: Bubba Sullivan with his grandfather, Gene Smith, 1942
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan (right) with his cousin, Tommy Davidson, and his mother, Lucille Sullivan, 1945 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: Bubba Sullivan (right) with his cousin, Tommy Davidson, and his mother, Lucille Sullivan, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: Bubba Sullivan, 1st grade; Elaine, Arkansas, 1947
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: Bubba Sullivan's sister, Mary Virginia "Ginger" Sullivan, 2nd grade
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: Bubba Sullivan, 4th Grade
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan (sitting on ground), batboy for the Wabash baseball team, and his father, Berbon Silas Sullivan (top row, 4th from left); Wabash, Arkansas, 1952 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: Bubba Sullivan (sitting on ground), batboy for the Wabash baseball team, and his father, Berbon Silas Sullivan (top row, 4th from left); Wabash, Arkansas, 1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: Bubba Sullivan, 11th grade
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan (front row, 3rd from left) with the Elaine High School Panthers basketball team; Elaine, Arkansas, 1957 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan (front row, 3rd from left) with the Elaine High School Panthers basketball team; Elaine, Arkansas, 1957
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan (right) as football co-captain, Elaine High School homecoming; Elaine, Arkansas, 1958 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: Berbon "Bubba" Sullivan (right) as football co-captain, Elaine High School homecoming; Elaine, Arkansas, 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: Bubba Sullivan and his nephew, Joey Ellzey Jr.; Wabash, Arkansas, 1966
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan's sister, Ginger Sullivan; cousin, Sally Smith; aunt, Wahnita Smith; and mother, Lucille Smith Sullivan, 1962 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Bubba Sullivan's sister, Ginger Sullivan; cousin, Sally Smith; aunt, Wahnita Smith; and mother, Lucille Smith Sullivan, 1962
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan's mother, Lucille Smith Sullivan, his uncles, Frank and Cecil Smith, and his aunt, Billie Joyce "Sissy" Orbin © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: Bubba Sullivan's mother, Lucille Smith Sullivan, his uncles, Frank and Cecil Smith, and his aunt, Billie Joyce "Sissy" Orbin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan (lower left) with his familly: (top row from left) uncle, Cecil Smith; aunt, Sissy Orbin; unknown; mother, Lucille Sullivan; father, Berbon Sullivan; (middle row from right) cousin, Sally Smith; sister, Ginger Ellzey; (front row, standing) nephew, Joey Ellzey Jr.; (lower right) uncle, Frank Smith © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: Bubba Sullivan (lower left) with his familly: (top row from left) uncle, Cecil Smith; aunt, Sissy Orbin; unknown; mother, Lucille Sullivan; father, Berbon Sullivan; (middle row from right) cousin, Sally Smith; sister, Ginger Ellzey; (front row, standing) nephew, Joey Ellzey Jr.; (lower right) uncle, Frank Smith
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan with his nephews, Jay Ellzey and Joey Ellzey Jr. (standing) © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: Bubba Sullivan with his nephews, Jay Ellzey and Joey Ellzey Jr. (standing)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: Bubba Sullivan (right) with his father, Berbon Silas Sullivan, 1972
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan with his nephew, Joey Ellzey Jr., and niece, Suzanne Ellzey, Christmas, 1973 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: Bubba Sullivan with his nephew, Joey Ellzey Jr., and niece, Suzanne Ellzey, Christmas, 1973
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: Bubba Sullivan with friends at the InBetween Restaurant
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba Sullivan (second from right) with the Sin City Crew on Joe Earl Bryant's farm in Barton, Arkansas, 1976 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Bubba Sullivan (second from right) with the Sin City Crew on Joe Earl Bryant's farm in Barton, Arkansas, 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba and Kathy Sullivan's wedding in the Chi Omega Greek Theater, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1979 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: Bubba and Kathy Sullivan's wedding in the Chi Omega Greek Theater, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1979
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: Bubba (center) and Kathy Sullivan at their wedding reception, 1979
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Bubba and Kathy Sullivan on their wedding day; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1979 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: Bubba and Kathy Sullivan on their wedding day; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1979
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Bubba and Kathy Sullivan; Greenbriar, Arkansas, 1988
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Bubba Sullivan (right) with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

World map with pins illustrating where people travelled from to visit Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: World map with pins illustrating where people travelled from to visit Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#30: Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Closeup of 1988 King Biscuit Blues Festival poster displayed at Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: Closeup of 1988 King Biscuit Blues Festival poster displayed at Bubba's Blues Corner, Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#34: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Bubba Sullivan at Bubba's Blues Corner; Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas